Heat exchange – Flow passages for two confined fluids – Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
Patent
1976-05-10
1977-09-20
Davis, Jr., Albert W.
Heat exchange
Flow passages for two confined fluids
Interdigitated plural first and plural second fluid passages
65 4A, 65 33, C03C 2320, C03B 3200, F28D 700, F28F 100
Patent
active
040490491
ABSTRACT:
The novel embodiments disclosed herein also illustrate a novel method for making a recuperator structure. A multiplicity of elongated tubes are formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. In one embodiment, each of the tubes is sealed at each end and contains an expansible fluid medium. Each of the tubes has a portion intermediate the ends thereof which is substantially straight. Pluralities of the multiplicity of tubes are tightly packed into a first plurality of layers with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to each other. The first plurality of layers are arranged with the straight intermediate tube portions thereof in a stacked array with respect to each other, and with the axes of the intermediate portions of the tubes in each layer essentially parallel to the axes of the corresponding intermediate tube portions in the other first plurality of layers. This enables the formation of a first series of parallel passageways when the sealed ends of the tubes in the first plurality of layers are opened to receive a first fluid. Each layer of the first plurality of layers of tubes is spaced from at least one of the adjacent first plurality layers in the array by interposing spacer means between the layers being spaced.
In some embodiments herein, a separated pair of spacer means extend transversely across the tubes of the first plurality layers being spaced and adjacent the intermediate tube portions of the first plurality layers to define a second series of passageways extending from first spacer means at one end of the intermediate tube portions to second spacer means at the other end of the intermediate tube portions to receive a second fluid. The separated spacer means may also function as a header connecting means for the first series of parallel passageways. The spacer means is also formed of glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic having a coefficient of lineal thermal expansion that is substantially the same as the elongated tubes of the first plurality of layers. Fluid flow directing means are longitudinally disposed along each of the second series passageways to confine the second fluid in and direct the flow of the second fluid through the second series passageways in a direction parallel to and in heat exchange relationship with the first series intermediate tube portions adjacent the second series passageways. The flow directing means for the second fluid may include a second plurality of layers of tubes, each tube in said second plurality of layers having an intermediate portion that is parallel to other second series and first series intermediate tube portions. The flow directing means is also formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic having a coefficient of lineal thermal expansion that is substantially the same as the elongated tubes. The outer surfaces of an assembly of elongated tubes, spacer means, and fluid flow directing means are constrained to restrict outward movement of those portions of the assembly. The constrained assembly is then subjected to a heat treatment which includes temperatures sufficient to soften the elongated tubes and thus to cause said fluid medium entrapped therein to expand and urge the tubes into contact with adjacent tubes, the spacer means and the flow directing means to fuse the assembly portions into an integral mass. The heat treatment further includes temperatures sufficient to effect crystallization of the tubes, the spacer means, and the fluid flow directing means into a low expansion glass-ceramic.
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Mold Donald F.
Rice Ronald G.
Davis Jr. Albert W.
Lazarus Ira S.
Nelson J. R.
Owens--Illinois, Inc.
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